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| LADY, there is a hope that all men have,— | |
| Some mercy for their faults, a grassy place | |
| To rest in, and a flower-strown, gentle grave; | |
| Another hope which purifies our race, | |
| That, when that fearful bourne forever past, | 5 |
| They may find rest,—and rest so long to last. | |
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| I seek it not, I ask no rest for ever, | |
| My path is onward to the farthest shores,— | |
| Upbear me in your arms, unceasing river, | |
| That from the soul’s clear fountain swiftly pours, | 10 |
| Motionless not, until the end is won, | |
| Which now I feel hath scarcely felt the sun. | |
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| To feel, to know, to soar unlimited | |
| Mid throngs of light-winged angels sweeping far, | |
| And pore upon the realms unvisited | 15 |
| That tessellate the unseen, unthought star,— | |
| To be the thing that now I feebly dream, | |
| Flashing within my faintest, deepest gleam. | |
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| Ah! caverns of my soul! how thick your shade, | |
| Where flows that life by which I faintly see:— | 20 |
| Wave your bright torches, for I need your aid, | |
| Golden-eyed demons of my ancestry! | |
| Your son though blinded hath a light within, | |
| A heavenly fire which ye from suns did win. | |
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| And, lady, in thy hope my life will rise | 25 |
| Like the air-voyager, till I upbear | |
| These heavy curtains of my filmy eyes | |
| Into a lighter, more celestial air: | |
| A mortal’s hope shall bear me safely on, | |
| Till I the higher region shall have won. | 30 |
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| O Time! O Death! I clasp you in my arms, | |
| For I can soothe an infinite cold sorrow, | |
| And gaze contented on your icy charms | |
| And that wild snow-pile which we call to-morrow; | |
| Sweep on, O soft and azure-lidded sky, | 35 |
| Earth’s waters to your gentle gaze reply. | |
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| I am not earth-born, though I here delay; | |
| Hope’s child, I summon infiniter powers, | |
| And laugh to see the mild and sunny day | |
| Smile on the shrunk and thin autumnal hours; | 40 |
| I laugh, for hope hath happy place with me,— | |
| If my bark sinks, ’t is to another sea. | |
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